Method of covering textile and porous materials with metal.



NITED f STATES ATEN'T OFFICE.

METHOD OF' COVE RING TEXTILE AND POROUS MATERI ALS'WIT H METAL.

SPECIFICATION-forming partbf Letters Patent N o. 694,946,-dated March 11, 1902.

A Application filed August 30, 1900. serial No. 28,605. (Specimens) To all. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A; DALY, residing at Washington, in the Dis'trict'of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Covering Textile and Porous Materials with Metal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metallizing textile fabrics and other porous articles for the purpose of producing ornamental metallic surfaces and substances. It is especially applicable to the m etallizationof lace and other ornamental and flexible fabric, and by this process a metallic lace can be produced. either rigid or flexible and-having very many of the characteristics and much of the appearance oughly saturated with this solution, either by immersion therein or by the application of the solution to the fabric by means of a brush or otherwise. The fabric'or material having been saturated with the solution is then partially dried; If a lace or netting, it should .be stretched or spread out and the threads or meshes restored to normal or regular position. Excess of the compoundmay be removed by blowing or by centrifugal action. As pyroxylin gives considerable stifiness to the fabric, it is quite easy to spread out a lace or net to show togood advantage when saturated with such compound. The fabric or flexible textile sub.- stance having been covered bya conductor of electricity, consisting of finely powdered metal, is immersed in a proper chemical solution ,and an electroplatingattachment is made according to any approved formula. An electrodeposit of copper, nickel, silver, or other metal capable of electrodeposition is then made on the fabric. If the coating or saturation has been properly done, a very even deposit is made,so that the original configuration of the lace or fabric is substantially preserved.

A et can be covered with metal to give the V trodeposited net has much more the appearance of a knitted or woven textile material than has usual metal construction whether stamped or engraved.

' The solution of pyroxylin, celluloid, xylonite, or like compound has a base of nitrated cellulose, and it is probable that for the purposes of this invention nitrated cellulose compounds may be'utilized' in various ways. I

describe the invention as I have practiced it,

leaving for subsequent investigation the determination of the question as to what constitutes equivalents. The solution having such nitrated cellulose base having been well mixed with the comminuted metal carries the metal with it into the fibers of the material constituting the lace, network, or knitted or netted fabric, and thesubsequent electrodeposition of metal on anet or fabric so treated causes the electrodepositedmetal to become incorporated with or firmly connected to the metal so enmeshed, producing a compound structure of lacework and metal or fabric and metal quite difierent from a metallic deposit on the surface of a material which has been covered with black-lead or similar conducting material.

For rigid materials-such as ornamental railings, window and other screens, gates, &c.-a heavy electrometal deposit may be made on the textile base; but where flexibility is desired the fabric is but lightly coated. with metal and may then be used as a trimming for garments or as a substitute for bul- 1ion, gold or silver lace, &c.

, I am aware that it has been proposed to treat articles with a coating of varnish having a finely-divided metal therein, then treat the coated article with a solution of nitrate of silver, and then electrodeposit metal on this silver base. As I do not use nitrate of silver in any form I do not claim such a process as is above indicated.

I am also aware that finely-divided tin has,

been used with or in place of graphite as an electrical conducting-surface to increase the rapidity of the deposition of a copper film in electrotyping and clectroplatin g. Thisis not my process in its entirety, but is only a wellknown step which I may employ as part of my method.

What I claim is- Y 1. The methodof producing metallized fabric of the character described, which consists in saturating the fabric with an adhesive compound havinga quantity of com min uted metal embodied therewith, whereby the metal becomes enmeshed with the fabric, drying the fabric with the compound and metal so in: corporated,and electrodepositin g metal thereon, so that the same becomes adherent to the enmeshed particles of metal in the fabric, substantially as described.

2. The method of producing metallized lace and the like which consists in-saturating said fabric with a solution composed of a nitrocellulose base, as described, and finely-comminuted metal incorporated therein, then electrically depositing metal directly on said fabric so that the same becomes incorporated and connected to the enmeshed metal, substantially as described.

' 3. A metallized textile fabric having finely comminuted metal on meshed in its fibers nected to said enmeshed particles, substantially as described.

l. The method of producing metallized fabric of the characterdescribed, which consists in saturating the fabric with an adhesive compound having comminuted metal contained therein, drying the fabric with the metal and compound, and without other additionlto the product so prepared, electrodepositing a metal directly thereon, substantially as described.

5 A metalli'zed textile fabric having finely- -comminuted metal enmeshed in its fibers along with an adhesive filling, and having a substantial covering of metal electrode'posited directly on andadherent to the enmeshed metallic particles, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. DALY.

Witnessesz LEON LAsKn FRANCIS N. ORLANDO. 

